George Evans 1935 – 2024

Born in Barry on 6th May 1935, George started playing table tennis when he joined his local YMCA at the age of 10. At 15, he won both the Barry junior and senior tournaments on the same day, as well as becoming Welsh junior champion.

He went on to become a renowned Welsh table tennis player whose impressive career spanned more than 80 years. Representing Wales in 35 countries, he competed in numerous World and European Championships. Among his many achievements, George became the first Welsh player to complete an undefeated run in his category at the 1979 World Championships in North Korea, an accomplishment that led him to play professionally in Germany. He won 27 major Welsh titles, leaving a lasting impact on the sport both on and off the table.

Like his father, George was a magnificent all-round sportsman. He loved to play tennis and golf and won an international cap (presented to him by Field Marshal Montgomery) when he played under 18s football for the Wales Boys Club against England at Fratton Park in Portsmouth. George provided the cross for Wales’ only goal that day.

Beyond his playing career, George served as President of Table Tennis Wales and was a passionate advocate for the sport throughout the country.

The Table Tennis Wales Board unanimously elected George to become its President in 2018 and, with unparalleled experience and infectious enthusiasm, George played a vital role in development of the game in Wales.

His dedication earned him a place in the Welsh Table Tennis Hall of Fame, where his legacy as both an athlete and leader will be forever honoured.

Outside of sport, Goerge studied at Holton Road Elementary School and Barry Grammar, eventually continuing a family tradition by becoming a coal trimmer at Barry Docks. It was a hard and dangerous job, but it didn’t stop George playing semi-professional football (he had a trial for Everton FC) and winning his first of five Welsh Singles table tennis titles at the age of 23.

That stunning performance attracted the attention of a professional table tennis club in Lübeck, northern Germany – where George played for six years as the team’s solitary allowed foreign player in the Bundesliga.

George’s biggest achievement was winning the over 70s trophy at the European Veterans’ Table Tennis Championship in Bratislava 2005. He also reached the semi-finals in both the 2006 World Veterans’ Championship in Bremen and in the 2007 Euros in Rotterdam.

He played table tennis as far afield as China and Japan, but George’s heart never ventured far from the Vale of Glamorgan, where he lived with his wife Stephanie (who has also won several Welsh table tennis titles) and was actively involved in coaching and running a community club until very late on in his life.

Table Tennis Wales was saddened to hear of George’s passing; our small Table Tennis family in Wales has lost a legend and a gentlemen of our sport.